Distance MBAs gain appeal

There is no doubt that success in any field requires a strong understanding of the principles of that field. Formal education is the established method of acquiring specialised knowledge for many fields and provides a means of proving ones skills with officially recognised certificates and qualifications. While many people continue to opt for a traditional school course, either at college or university level, today, formally recognised qualifications can also be attained more flexibly than ever. This is particularly relevant for people who wish to offset the increasing costs of further education by working at the same time as they learn.

With recent downturns in the economy, more people are having to think carefully about their educational commitments. While further education provides improved job prospects and promotional possibilities, it also comes at a high monetary cost; student loans and grants are available to help cover the expense, but many individuals, particularly those who are returning to learning later in life, frequently prefer to keep a steady income as they earn their new qualifications. A full-time university course requires attendance at daily or weekly lectures, perhaps necessitating an inconvenient move for the prospective student who probably already has a job. Universities are well aware of this fact and an increasing number of more flexible options are now becoming available. Business degrees are no exception, as the wide pool of interested individuals ensures that relevant courses are very popular.

Distance learning is a very viable and popular method of studying for a qualification in business, even up to MBA level. Distance learning means that courses are conducted without the student needing to visit the university the course is given by. Students using flexible distance learning business courses can study from home and set their own hours for learning. This ensures that even a very busy student, who is working full time, should still be able to select a suitable workload for themselves; flexible distance learning degrees are part-time and can hold the same value as a degree earned by taking a full-time course.

Flexible business degrees are increasingly popular in the UK and worldwide. As the job market improves, businessmen and women looking to increase their base of knowledge and improve their career options can benefit from the increase in jobs available now, without compromising the ability to acquire further education. A large number of universities are offering business degrees on a distance-learning basis, including Kenan-Flagler University (North Carolina USA), IE (Madrid) and the UK’s Warwick Business School. The Warwick Business School, in particular, has many years of experience in providing distance-learning degrees. École des Hautes Études Commerciales de Paris, (HEC), also prominently provides distance learning degrees for business up to the MBA level, though it should be noted that these are not executive business degrees, but rather aimed at students with less experience in the business world. This makes distance-learning degrees a very useful choice for those wishing for a boost during the early part of their business careers.